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I get the message in the video but it really doesn't fit with the song for me. But that is probably why I am just a face in the crowd and nothing more.

By the way, I wound up with a single extra ticket for Saturday night. I know, not the best deal to go by yourself to a concert, but it's what I have. I have to get any tickets to willcall tonight so I am going to make this simple; first person to claim it gets it.

ďEvery player dreams of being a Yankee, and if they donít itís because they never got the chance.Ē Aroldis Chapman

This year, the program was more subdued. The decoration, the dancing, the arrangements. In fitting with the low key feel, special guest Rolando Villazon took over all hosting duties, welcoming the crowd, performing as the soloist, and doing the narration as well. It took a while for me to get used to his spanish accent, but by the end of the evening he was a long lost uncle, come to stay with the family for Christmas. Dieter and Harriet were there representing the first presidency.

I Saw Three Ships
I was impressed by the MoTab phrasing on this number, nice and tight. For this concert, the Choir seemed to go away from its lush sound to a modern, fresh feel. More on this later.

Processional: Carol of the Drum
Three puppet camels came in, and the woman working the head of one of the camels was marvelously talented; it looked as though the camel was fighting her lead and ready to spit. One of the camels sat and then fell over and I wasnt sure if this was planned or an accident.

Then Rolando Villazon comes on and tells a moderately funny joke and by the end of his storytelling the audience was ready to accept his lead on the rest of the evening. He then launches into Deck the Halls in full operative style, which I didn't really like as it didn't seem to fit with the feel of the song. Also, he wasn't technically proficient here, although he firmly established his tenor chops. It was clear the men could sing- I just wondered if he was going to be effective.

Cancion para la Navidad
This carol has a nice folksy feel, if you listen to the original rendition by composer Jose Luis Perales on youtube, you realize that Mack Wilberg has to rein in the MoTab to get the same feel. He has to take all 360 voices and dial them back close to zero, but still get them to enunciate clearly and powerfully. Controlled power is needed, and Mack's arrangement was successful at this, resulting in a sweet carol. Last year I complained that all of Mack's arrangements were starting to sound the same: intro, chorus, chord change, swelling to a lush and overpowering climax. Well, this year I get to eat my hat, as this was as restrained and fresh and modern as I've ever heard a Mack Wilberg choir. More on this later.

Three Alleluias
This suite of 3 songs featuring the lyric "alleluia" consisted of the forgettable How excellent Thy Name and Alleluia, by Handel, followed by Baroque composer Giulio Caccini's Alleluia chorus. Even though this Wilberg arrangement was performed back in 2014, and has been recorded on the Men of the MoTab album, I have never heard it before. Simply and truly divine. Gorgeous blending of voice and orchestra. This is where Mack is recognized as a genius. You cannot sit through this performance and not cry. You cannot hear this and not feel the Lord very close by.

To show how beautiful the Wilberg arrangement is, here is a standard organ recital of the song-- you need only listen a minute or so to get the feel of the music.

This year was Ye Olde Programme Lighte, from the song selection to the guests. More playful than normal. It was a nice change, and now I'll be able to claim that I too, have sung with the MoTab. (There was a singalong audience portion)

I saw Copelius in glorious high def on the big screen at the very start of the program.

This year was Ye Olde Programme Lighte, from the song selection to the guests. More playful than normal. It was a nice change, and now I'll be able to claim that I too, have sung with the MoTab. (There was a singalong audience portion)

I saw Copelius in glorious high def on the big screen at the very start of the program.

This guy was a good storyteller,

But this guy would have been 10x better

As big as the conference center is, those eyebrows may not have fit. I enjoyed this show more than last year, but they're all pretty fun. On to Messiah in March.

ďEvery player dreams of being a Yankee, and if they donít itís because they never got the chance.Ē Aroldis Chapman

As big as the conference center is, those eyebrows may not have fit. I enjoyed this show more than last year, but they're all pretty fun. On to Messiah in March.

Buddy, you are no good to us if you can't score us all Christmas concert tix!

"There is no creature more arrogant than a self-righteous libertarian on the web, am I right? Those folks are just intolerable."
"It's no secret that the great American pastime is no longer baseball. Now it's sanctimony." -- Guy Periwinkle, The Nix.
"Juilliardk N I ibuprofen Hyu I U unhurt u" - creekster

Buddy, you are no good to us if you can't score us all Christmas concert tix!

I guess I am no good. Christmas, as you may imagine is pretty limited, but I think I managed to get them to some people that really needed them this year. My familyt even sacrificed to allow some people to go who we felt needed the tickets.

But I can get tickets more plentifully to the Pioneer Day Concert. No guarantee to everyone, but should be a few.

ďEvery player dreams of being a Yankee, and if they donít itís because they never got the chance.Ē Aroldis Chapman